Landing at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is easy—getting to your hotel efficiently is the real travel skill. Las Vegas doesn’t have a subway/metro to the airport, but you do have solid options: rideshare, taxis, and RTC public buses that connect you to the Strip, Downtown/Fremont, and major transfer hubs like SSTT and Bonneville Transit Center (BTC). ✅
This guide is built for travelers: where to catch your ride, what to pay, which routes actually go where, and the common mistakes that waste time (and money). ⚠️
📍 Quick Overview: Best Ways to Leave LAS
| Option | Best for | Typical cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚖 Taxi | Fast + simple | $$$ | Fast | Official taxi queues at both terminals. |
| 🚗 Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Fast + app-based | $$–$$$ | Fast | Pick-up is not curbside at arrivals—follow terminal-specific steps. |
| 🚌 RTC Bus (108 / 109 / CX) | Cheapest | $ | 30–90 min | Great if you know the correct stop + transfer hubs. |
| 🚐 Rental Car Shuttle | Renting a car | Included | Varies | Shuttle pick-up points differ by terminal. |
🧭 Know Your Terminal: Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3 (and how to switch)
Terminal basics
- Terminal 1 has the main RTC bus stop area used by Routes 108 and 109 (and also CX).
- Terminal 3 has CX service and separate rideshare + ground transport flows.
🚍 Inter-terminal shuttle (Terminal 1 ⇄ Terminal 3)
If you land in the “wrong” terminal for your connection, use the courtesy inter-terminal shuttle, running about every 20–30 minutes.
🚇 “Metro lines” in Las Vegas = RTC Bus Lines + Key Transfer Stations 🚍✅
Las Vegas doesn’t have a metro/subway network like many big cities—so your “line map” is mainly RTC bus routes plus a few transfer hubs that make everything easier.
Key transfer stations you should remember 📍
- SSTT (South Strip Transit Terminal): the main hub for the south Strip area; served by Route 109 and the Deuce.
- Bonneville Transit Center (BTC): the big downtown transit hub used by routes like 108, 109, CX, and the Deuce.
- UNLV Transit Center: a major connection point on CX.
- Sahara Monorail Station: a useful link if you want to hop onto the Las Vegas Monorail after using Route 108.
🚌 How to Get There (from LAS): RTC Bus Routes that Matter
🚌 Route 108 — “Paradise”
Best for: East/center access + BTC (downtown hub) + Sahara Monorail Station
Key timepoints on the schedule: LAS Terminal 1 (Zero Level) → Tropicana → Flamingo → Sahara Monorail Station → BTC
Service starts early: weekday departures from the airport begin around 4:29 a.m.
🚌 Route 109 — “Maryland Parkway”
Best for: SSTT (South Strip hub) and BTC, with Strip-adjacent stops along the way
Key timepoints: BTC → Sahara → Flamingo → Tropicana → LAS Terminal 1 (Zero Level) → SSTT
✅ 24-hour service is explicitly noted on the route schedule material.
🚌 CX — “Centennial Express”
Best for: Downtown/Fremont area + BTC + a direct-feeling bus option that also serves Terminal 3
- Serves LAS Terminal 3 (Departure Level) and Terminal 1 (Zero Level).
- Includes key points like Flamingo & Las Vegas Blvd, BTC, and 4th & Carson (downtown area).
💳 Tickets, Passes, and What You’ll Pay (RTC)
RTC fares are typically easiest if you decide first: Strip/Downtown vs Residential.
Strip/Downtown (Deuce-style fares) 🚌
- 2-Hour Pass: $6
- 24-Hour Pass: $8
- 3-Day Pass: $20
Residential fares 🚌
- Single Ride: $2
- 2-Hour Pass: $3
- 24-Hour Pass: $5
- 15-Day: $34
- 30-Day: $65
Where to buy (practical reality) ✅
- Some major stops have Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) that sell 2-hour / 24-hour / 3-day passes.
- Important nuance: the Deuce schedule notes that TVMs only accept cash (effective Nov 13, 2025).
- If you plan to pay with cash on-board, don’t assume you’ll get change (common transit rule; bring small bills/coins). ⚠️
⏱️ Operating Hours You Can Actually Plan Around
- 🚌 Route 108 begins airport departures around 4:29 a.m. (weekday schedule).
- 🚌 Route 109 is marked as 24-hour service.
- 🚌 Deuce operates 24/7, with posted frequency guidance (about 10–15 min daytime/evening and ~20 min overnight).
- 🚝 Las Vegas Monorail hours (useful after you reach a station like MGM Grand / Sahara area):
- Mon: 7am–midnight
- Tue–Thu: 7am–2am
- Fri–Sun: 7am–3am
✈️ Airport Connections (Step-by-Step Routes from LAS) 🚇🚌🚖
1) 📍 LAS → Center Strip (Bellagio / Caesars / Flamingo area) ✅
Best budget route: CX to Flamingo & Las Vegas Blvd
- Go to the public bus stop:
- Terminal 1: Zero Level (public transit access)
- Terminal 3: Level 2 bus stop area (public transit access)
- Board CX (Centennial Express).
- Exit at Flamingo & Las Vegas Blvd and walk to your hotel area.
Fast + simple route: 🚗 Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
- Terminal 1 pick-up: Level 2 of the parking garage, via elevator near Door 2 + pedestrian bridge.
- Terminal 3 pick-up: Valet Level of the parking garage, via elevator near Door 52/54/56 + bridge + down to valet level.
2) 📍 LAS → South Strip (Mandalay Bay / Luxor / Excalibur / MGM area) 🚌✅
Reliable public transit play: Route 109 → SSTT → Deuce (if needed)
- Start at Terminal 1 (Zero Level) for Route 109.
- Take 109 to SSTT (South Strip Transit Terminal).
- From SSTT, use the Deuce for Strip hotels (it serves major south Strip stops).
3) 📍 LAS → Downtown / Fremont Street Experience 🏙️🚌
Best public transit route: CX toward downtown
- Catch CX at Terminal 1 (Zero Level) or Terminal 3 (Departure Level).
- Ride toward downtown stops such as 4th & Carson (downtown area) and/or go to BTC for easy transfers.
- If needed, transfer at BTC to routes like the Deuce for Las Vegas Blvd/Fremont access.
4) 📍 Terminal 3 → “I need Route 108/109” (common problem) ⚠️
Routes 108 and 109 are tied to Terminal 1 (Zero Level) stops on their schedules.
Fix: take the inter-terminal shuttle to Terminal 1 (about every 20–30 minutes).
5) 🚐 LAS → Rental Car Center (Pick-up + return)
- Terminal 1 shuttle pick-up: from baggage claim → Ground Transportation (Level 1) → outside doors 10 and 11.
- Terminal 3 shuttle pick-up: from baggage claim → Ground Transportation on Level Zero → shuttle stops at both ends of the terminal.
- Returns: follow signage to the Rent-A-Car Center; shuttles take you back to your terminal.
⚠️ Common Mistakes (and how to avoid them) ✅
- ⚠️ Going to the wrong rideshare pickup: LAS pick-up is in the parking garage, not at arrivals curb. Follow the terminal steps.
- ⚠️ Assuming there’s a metro/train to the airport: there isn’t—plan for bus or car options instead.
- ⚠️ Terminal confusion: Route availability differs; use the inter-terminal shuttle when needed.
- ⚠️ Not using transfer hubs: SSTT and BTC simplify almost every multi-leg route.
- ⚠️ Ticket vending machine surprise: the Deuce schedule notes TVMs are cash-only (effective Nov 13, 2025). Bring cash if you rely on TVMs.
FAQ ❓
Is there a direct train/monorail from LAS to the Strip? 🚇
No direct rail link. The Las Vegas Monorail runs on the Strip corridor (with posted operating hours), but you must reach a station first via bus/taxi/rideshare.
Which bus is best from the airport to the center Strip? 🚌
CX is a strong choice because it serves Flamingo & Las Vegas Blvd and also serves Terminal 3.
Does the Deuce stop at the airport? 🚍
The Deuce is a Strip corridor route and does not function as an airport-terminal pickup in the way Routes 108/109/CX do. Use SSTT/BTC connections instead.
How often does the inter-terminal shuttle run? 🚌
Approximately every 20–30 minutes.
Conclusion ✅
For most visitors, the best LAS strategy is simple:
- 🚖 Taxi/rideshare when you value time and convenience (especially with luggage).
- 🚌 RTC buses (108/109/CX) when you want to save money—just anchor your plan around SSTT and BTC and pick the correct terminal stop.
- 🚝 Use the Monorail after you’re already on/near the Strip corridor.
Plan around terminal realities, carry the right fare method, and you’ll start your Vegas trip without the “why am I still at the airport?” feeling. 😄
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